Give Us Feedback!

We need your feedback! Please help make next year's event even better than this year's by leaving
race organizers feedback about your experiences this year. We need your throughts, insights, suggestions,
and criticism.

Here's what people are saying about CopperDog...

My name is Andrew Hamilton and I am contacting you regarding your website http://www.copperdog150.com

I am looking for business partners who will support me in promoting my client's websites and I would be pleased to work with you.

If you are interested, please let me know and I will be happy to send you further information.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards,

Andrew

If you do not respond to this email you will not receive any additional emails me.

To permanently delete yourself from our list, simply reply to this with a blank email and you will not receive any communication from us in the future.

- Andrew Hamilton

Fan

9/20/2015 12:59 AM

Season 2014/2015

4 dog class

Suggestion

Has anybody thought about including a short 4 dog class and or skijoring race for Sat events or anytime over Copper dog weekend??

- alt babcock

Musher

4/26/2015 4:25 PM

Season 2014/2015

revision to 3/1/15 post below

Loved It

I have a typo in my comments below. My comment about two day stage race for 6 dog should say start out of Copper Harbor on Sunday.

- Geri Minard

Musher

3/24/2015 4:29 PM

Season 2014/2015

great Ra
Great event

Loved It

Great race. Great people. Great fun.

- Jerry Trudell

Musher

3/16/2015 9:17 PM

Season 2014/2015

Roscoe Bland, Ruff country sled team, CopperDog forty musher

Loved It

This was our first race and although we did not finish, it was a great experience. Everyone from Kim to the volunteers were great. could not meet nicer people. When we have a team that can be competitive we will be back, we love night racing. thanks to the mushers that gave us tips and advice, a special thanks to mushers Randy Foust, and Jerry Trudell. Jerry thanks for telling us about the downhill that had a hard 90 degree turn, it was awesome the dogs flew through it like a rocket on rails, also thanks to Chris and Whitney for letting me stay at their house while waiting on my handler, great experience, great people, great race we will come back.

- Roscoe Bland

Musher

3/4/2015 11:54 AM

Season 2014/2015

Vansville corner

Suggestion

Just one suggestion. I was volunteering at the Vansville corner and found that the map/photo that is on the volunteer page directed us to the Chopp Rd corner. The same map/photo is for both corners. Not a big deal, but just slight confusion when we went to what we thought was the Vansville corner and told we were at the wrong spot. A map/photo pinpointing the correct location would eliminate that!

- Sonja

First Time Volunteer

3/3/2015 4:19 PM

Season 2014/2015

2 day stage for 6 dog

General Comment

Even tho its a race, if ur goung to gear it for the sport mushers /dogs, an ur goin to do a two stage,. Then the longer the rest inbetween stages the better the dogs will look at finish for the spectators.

6dog event could do a shorter distance 2nd stage especially if first stg was longer.

.

Keep in mind the 6dog could blossom into a pro AND a sport class event in the yrs to come

That's what happens when u have a PREMIER event.

- Fred Powers

Musher

3/3/2015 12:23 PM

Season 2014/2015

Fred Powers
Arzareth Racing

General Comment

From being a tour operator to this racing. i believe these r the facts.

number of teams declined since 2008 by 2010 only 1/2 the teams were present.

I've got pics from tcsdr2006 I believe it was 114 teams. i don't c that no more and that's why 6 dog is becomiing popular.

i think 6 dog mileage at 30 to 35 , 2 days is ideal with a pool of 8 dogs. Mushers seem to borrow dogs s a pool of 8. should work.

i do think it should b geared to the sport folks because there's more of them at least in michigan.

increase purse for 6 dog that will attract pros along with sports folk.

From racing but never bing at copperdog it sounds like ur the PREMIER RACE in michigan keep up the awesome work/race i hope to b there next yr.

- Fred Powers

Musher

3/3/2015 11:35 AM

Season 2014/2015

Spectator map

Loved It

Several spectators asked for a specific Spectator Map. They want more! They said the maps with "all of the colored lines" did not help them. They did not know where Traprock River Bridge or Phoenix Farms Rd. was. Locations, directions and times. A lot of people come in from out of the area. Businesses could pass them out, too.

- Jan Reese

Returning Volunteer

3/3/2015 8:37 AM

Season 2014/2015

Road salt

Loved It

A musher related to me that there was some road salt at Scott Street intersection area (at the beginning of the race) that was an issue with her dog's paws. Knowing how meticulous CopperDog is with putting down only clean snow, maybe more snow is needed in that area?

- Jan Reese

Returning Volunteer

3/3/2015 8:26 AM

Season 2014/2015

CD40 Hot water

Loved It

To our CD40 Wonderful Mushers, Handlers & Dogs,

We will have hot water for your dogs next year! Our sincerest apologies.

- Jan Reese

Returning Volunteer

3/3/2015 8:16 AM

Season 2014/2015

Mushers Love Our Volunteers

General Comment

Once again, CopperDog has received many positive comments from our Mushers in regards to our volunteer army. They are amazed each year they attend our race and many of the first time competitors have already said they were so impressed and will be coming back. Without all of the community involvement and the volunteers that came out in the cold this past weekend, we could not have this event. We received comment after comment on how great the volunteers are!

Give yourselves all a huge pat on the back and on behalf of the CopperDog organization, Thank You!

2015 CopperDog 150/40 Race Director

- Kim Pici

Race Organization

3/2/2015 2:29 PM

Season 2014/2015

Start times for early CD40 mushers

Big Mistake

Are you certain you have correct start times for CD40? I watched the live stream Google Hangout/Brassard. The time keepers were REALLY CONFUSED when Roscoe Bland had problems & then timing the early musher through. When I read your Start Time Sheet for CD40, the data was really odd!!!!

#24 Jeremy Gudgeon Start time 8:16:01

#25 Jerry Trudell " " 7:53:58

#26 Alex LaPlante " " 8:02:02

#27 Mike Betz " " 7:56:02

Now I cannot find the CD40 Start Time Sheet on your website & Brassard's videos are not available on Google Hangout or Youtube.

- Betty LaPlant

Musher Family/Friend

3/2/2015 10:28 AM

Season 2014/2015

An awesome event

Loved It

This was the first sled dog race I have seen, and I am hooked. The event was so much fun. The atmosphere in Calumet was beautiful and the race was a first class event. Thank you to all of the race organizers, officials, and volunteers for making this high spirited and amazing event happen. The mushers and their teams and dogs are totally awesome. Congratulations Copper Dog staff, what you did is something really special.

- Joe Flynn

Spectator

3/2/2015 1:28 AM

Season 2014/2015

Great Job Volunteers!

Loved It

I had the chance to work with volunteers on many levels this weekend and every one of them were terrific! It's great to see the community come out and support an event like this! Thanks to the Board who works tirelessly not only this weekend but all year to make this race possible!

- John Bryant

Returning Volunteer

3/1/2015 11:12 PM

Season 2014/2015

Love this race!

Loved It

This race is one of the best organized races in the Upper Peninsula!! After having run the Copperdog 150 a few times, this was my first time running the 6 dog race. The hospitality of Eagle River was outstanding! I would love to see a second stage on the 6 dog leaving Copper Harbor on Saturday. We can't wait to run next year!

- Geri Minard

Musher

3/1/2015 10:12 PM

Season 2014/2015

Volunteers were amazing this year!

Loved It

This was CopperDog's best volunteer showing yet. Not only where the volunteers plentiful with may first time volunteers, but the skill level of the volunteers and how they handled themselves around the dogs and on the trail was perfect. Great job everyone! And thank you!

- Todd Brassard

Organization

3/1/2015 9:34 PM

Season 2014/2015

Volunteers were wonderful??

Loved It

Early on I came to sharp left and downhill well I few off sled and lost team but my hook set?? only then I couldn't get hook out. There was one volunteer there who immediately came over to make sure I was okay and he helped me get my hook out. And away we went! There was a small gap in Orange fencing and my dogs ran through out onto blacktop running to and fro for what seemed like a block. Finally stopped by volunteers and taken back unto trail! And away we went! At the big turn in Gay where illuminaries are, my dogs decided to go right and not follow the turn on trail to the left. Lyle Ross came to my rescue and asked if I needed help. He grabbed the dogs and helped me turn and away we went! God bless you all?? This was my first time doing this race, my first night race, and the third race I've ever done. Just started racing this season. This was a great course! Thanks to everyone ????

- Cynthia M.

Musher

3/1/2015 8:41 PM

Season 2014/2015

Race format for 2016

Loved It

Add second stage to 6 dog race.

Keep stage 1 as is. Second stage to start in Copper Harbor shortly after 10 dog teams leave. Have 6 dog run up Brockway but skip the extra loop and go the remaining 22 or so miles to Calumet. This would make a 28 mile finishing leg, add to Copper Harbor festivities, and give the 6 dog class a bit larger role.

In general, the 6 dog classes are growing in lower 48 state dog sled races as the larger classes (10+) are dwindling. Note: a longer second stage run, ie same course as 10 dog with the extra loop, IMO would be too much for a 6 dog team to run well.

- Matt Sturmer

Musher

3/1/2015 7:52 PM

Season 2014/2015

Document showing CD40 start times.

What were you thinking!?!

I am Alex LaPlante's 80-yr-old mom. Enjoy following her races but disappointed that someone has redacted the start video and timing sheet of the CD40. Why has this been done. I so enjoy seeing/hearing her starts!!!!???????

- Betty J. LaPlant

Musher Family/Friend

3/1/2015 5:24 PM

Season 2014/2015

Document showing CD40 start times.

What were you thinking!?!

I am Alex LaPlante's 80-yr-old mom. Enjoy following her races but disappointed that someone has redacted the start video and timing sheet of the CD40. Why has this been done. I so enjoy seeing/hearing her starts!!!!???????

- Betty J. LaPlant

Musher Family/Friend

3/1/2015 5:24 PM

Season 2014/2015

Friday night start video

General Comment

Why is the Friday night start video unavailable to view. My daughter, Alex, mushed in the CD40. Would really like to see/hear her start. ?????

- Betty LaPlant

Musher Family/Friend

3/1/2015 4:04 PM

Season 2014/2015

webcam/talking

Suggestion

Thanks for the effort CD150 put into this event:)

Camera positions not great and brockit was always talking by the mic.

Lighting did improve over Fridaynite. Most times could not see the racers faces/bib# because the volunteers were in front of the webcam. Would have been nice to have the camera at the finish line. Missed seeing my son's happy face and wave(I know he would have knowing we were watching from (BC, Canada)

- karen

Online Spectator

3/1/2015 1:33 PM

Season 2014/2015

camera

Really Liked

Have a better camera angle at finish line. Or just have the people in front of the camera move.

- Mr Bill

Online Spectator

3/1/2015 12:44 PM

Season 2014/2015

Checkpoint 165 (Gay hairpin turn)

Suggestion

There were a couple of "yawing moments" and spills again on the ay hairpin turn. More concerning to me was the potential of a pile-up, with three teams coming into the corner at once and the first team getting into a bit of a tangle (leaders didn't bend left). The musher set the snow hook with the sled at the apex of the turn, but the other two teams were hot on their heels. Fortunately Lyle (race judge) was there, waded right in, and moved the sled forward through the turn as the musher was lining out the dogs, just in the nick of time. I could see that it was impending trouble, but as a volunteer, didn't feel comfortable making that call. Lyle, as race judge and musher, had no qualms about just doing it.

We also had another situation when a team was stopped, but was about three or four feet wider than the apex (a volunteer was helping swing the leaders through the turn), and a second following team shot through on the inside. Again, no harm done, but had the leaders and/or volunteer swung left a little quicker, the first sled would have been pulled into the path of the second team.

We also had a couple of spills (corner cut too short by the dogs, pulling the sled into the snow fence on the inside of the corner), but that's inherent in a turn like this, I think.

My main concern is the potential for a pile-up on this corner, with dogs or a musher getting hurt in the ensuing mess. When we worked this corner last year, there were only a couple of minor snarls and spills. This year, the turn seemed wider (better grooming?,), we had more snow fence to better direct the teams away from the brush, and the inside had less pucker brush, so I thought everything would be smooth sailing. And, we had more luminary candles, including some on the outrun of the turn, to help better mark the trail. But, we had many more near misses this year than last. Maybe the teams were just "clumpier" coming into 165 than they were last year, and that was the difference.

I don't know if there is much to be done about this. It's a tight turn, and is part of the course which people expect/look forward to/dread/etc. Maybe Kate Larson or Lyle or Doug Harrar or Meredith have some ideas, since they were out there, too. I know there is risk inherent in the sport (or going to the corner store for milk) and I don't think we should "wussify" the race, but if there is something we can do to improve the safety of this corner, without detracting from it as one of the skill tests of the course, I think we should.

Even a bit of a reminder to the mushers to line out their teams after the turn, not in the turn, if at all possible might be enough to do the trick.

This race is astoundingly well organized, and the concern for the safety of all involved by the executive team is greatly appreciated. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to be a part of the event.

- Kevin

Returning Volunteer

2/28/2015 8:28 AM

Season 2014/2015

When is copper dog 150.com2015

Big Mistake

You should pre read your flyers because there is no start time for 2015 copper dog 150 only 2014

- concerned

Fan

2/21/2015 4:17 PM

Season 2014/2015

Posted schedule of events

General Comment

Maybe I'm just not finding it, but is there a schedule of events with times on it? I see the "calendar of events", but it's pretty vague. While there are some specific times noted. other events just have days and dates.

- Rick

Spectator

2/19/2015 6:48 PM

Season 2014/2015

Web spelling error

General Comment

Hello. Under your "Events" tab you have "Adobt-a-Musher". I believe you mean "Adopt-a-Musher".